4 Best Restaurants in Hood River, The Columbia River Gorge

After a day of skiing, windsurfing, or hiking, head to this inviting, family-run restaurant in downtown Hood River for a hearty, soul-warming bowl of ramen along with some shareable plates of izakaya-style appetizers, like fried oysters, tempura shrimp, and seasoned edamame. These richly complex ramens burst with flavor, from the duck chintan with scallions, corn, and stir-fried wood ear mushrooms to the miso clam with corn and cabbage (and optional Carlton Farms chashu pork as an add-in). The chicken katsu curry is delicious, too. 

With an angular, contemporary taproom on the Columbia River, pFriem (pronounced "freem") is all about the marriage of Belgium's brewing traditions and Oregon's distinctive, often hoppy, styles. But the kitchen serves stellar pub fare, too, including mussels and fries, veggie burgers with apple-onion chutney, and homemade bratwurst—it's a legit dining option even if you're not a big fan of craft beer. The brewery has quickly vaulted to the top echelon of Northwest craft beer makers, earning accolades for its heady Belgian Strong Blonde and one of the best IPAs in the state.

This snazzy, high-ceilinged space along the Hood River waterfront is wildly popular for its wood-fire-grilled pizzas with unusual toppings—such as the Cherry Girl, layered with local cherries, spicy chorizo, goat cheese, mozzarella, and marinara sauce. There are several tasty salads, apps, and non-pizza entrées, too, as well as tantalizing wood-fired s'mores for dessert.

Refined and relaxing, this high-ceilinged restaurant in a contemporary downtown building is popular both for dinner and enjoying a glass of local wine in the bar. Notable examples of the kitchen's deftly crafted Pacific Northwest fare, which emphasizes seasonal ingredients, include homemade gnocchi over cauliflower puree, roasted delicata squash, and parsnips and pan-roasted black cod with Asian greens, roasted radishes, and a huckleberry-sherry sauce.